Pre-Production Unit - Synopsis - Final Draft

Pilot Synopsis

“Four bodies, one suspect. No trace. Dead Simple”

In this gripping first series Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is in charge of Operation: Salsa. A stag night prank, gone wrong. He and his team are working against the clock to find missing groom Michael Harrison.

When his four best friends are killed in a car accident moments after burying Michael in a coffin in the middle of Ashdown Forest, leaving him nothing but a bottle of whiskey and a walkie talkie, it seems there is no hope for the soon to be husband.

Roy Grace himself is only too familiar with missing person cases, eight years after the disappearance of wife Sandy, Roy is still searching for answers.

With his photographic memory and interest in the paranormal, Roy’s controversial investigative techniques are often ridiculed but never proven wrong.

He has a stubbornness and determination inside him that has driven him relentlessly throughout his life to pursue facts, and the truth, which probably led to his early promotion of Detective Superintendent. Roy is human, he can make mistakes, often getting into trouble with boss Alison Vosper and the media through his unorthodox approach and his judgment can also sometimes be clouded by his never-ending search for his missing wife.

Roy and his colleague and best friend, the ever more hip and younger version of Roy, Glenn Branson, are the lead investigators on Operation: Salsa. When they set about solving the mystery of Harrison’s disappearance; they soon discover that what at first appears to be a simple accident and missing person’s case has in fact far darker and sinister undertones.

This original and gritty new detective series takes crime drama into the underbelly of contemporary Brighton and shows a realistic approach to the life of a detective. Roy Grace is played by BAFTA nominated David Morrissey  who works alongside a cast of British talent including Ashley Walters (Top Boy) and Felicity Jones (Cape Wrath).

With a dark and gritty tone, Dead Simple brings a captivating new detective to Channel 4.       

Pre-Production Unit - Synopsis Draft 3

Pilot Synopsis

“Four bodies, one suspect. No trace. Dead Simple”

In this gripping first series Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is in charge of Operation: Salsa. A stag night prank, gone wrong. He and his team and working against the clock to find missing groom Michael Harrison.

When his four best friends are killed in a car accident moments after burying Michael in a coffin in the middle of Ashdown Forest, leaving him nothing but a bottle of whiskey and a walkie talkie it seems there is no hope for the soon to be husband.

Roy himself is only too familiar with missing person’s cases, eight years after the disappearance of wife Sandy, Roy is still searching for answers.

With his photographic memory and interest in the paranormal, Roy’s controversial investigative techniques are often ridiculed but never proven wrong.

He has a stubbornness and determination inside him that has driven him relentlessly throughout his life to pursue facts, to pursue the truth, which probably led to his early promotion to Detective Superintendent. Roy is human, he can make mistakes, often getting into trouble with boss Alison Vosper and the media through his unorthodox approach and his judgment can also sometimes be clouded by his never-ending search for his missing wife.

Roy and his colleague and best friend, the ever more hip and younger version of Roy, Glenn Branson, are the lead investigators on Operation: Salsa. When they set about solving the mystery of Harrison’s disappearance; they soon come to realize that distraught fiancée Ashley Harper and best friend and business partner Mark Warren may not be all they seem to be. 

This original and gritty new detective series takes crime drama into the underbelly of contemporary Brighton and shows a realistic approach to the life of a detective. Roy Grace is played by actor David Morrissey, who works alongside a cast of British talent including Channel 4’s actor Ashley Walters (Top Boy) and actress Felicity Jones (Cape Wrath).

With a dark and gritty tone, Dead Simple brings a captivating new detective to Channel 4.       

Pre-Production Unit - Production Design Ideas

Just collecting some images for production design ideas for Roy's Office...

Pre - Production

I have just sent Peter another question, lets hope he replies again!

Casey Parker Hi Peter, I was just wondering who you would cast for Roy? Who is your dream Roy Grace or who do you imagine him as? Thank you :)

Pre - Production Unit - Synopsis draft 2

Pilot Synopsis

“Four bodies, one suspect. No trace. Dead Simple”

In this gripping first series Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is in charge of Operation: Salsa. A stag night prank, gone wrong. He and his team and working against the clock to find missing groom Michael Harrison.

When his four best friends are killed in a car accident moments after burying Michael in a coffin in the middle of Ashdown Forest, leaving him nothing but a bottle of whiskey and a walkie talkie it seems there is no hope for the soon to be husband.

Roy himself is only too familiar with missing person’s cases, eight years after the disappearance of wife Sandy, Roy is still searching for answers.

With his photographic memory and interest in the paranormal, Roy’s controversial investigative techniques are often ridiculed but never proven wrong.

He has a stubbornness and determination inside him that has driven him relentlessly throughout his life to pursue facts, to pursue the truth, which probably led to his early promotion to Detective Superintendent. Roy is human, he can makes mistakes; he often gets into trouble with boss Alison Vosper and the media over his choice to involve mediums when investigating cases and his judgment can sometimes be clouded by his never-ending search for Sandy.

Roy and his colleague and best friend, the ever more hip and younger version of Roy, Glenn Branson, are assigned the task of finding the missing groom before the upcoming wedding day. When they set about solving the mystery of Harrison’s disappearance; they soon come to realize that distraught fiancée Ashley Harper and best friend and business partner Mark Warren may not be all they seem to be. 

This original and gritty new murder mystery series takes crime dramas into the underbelly of tourist Brighton and shows a realistic approach to the life of a detective. Roy Grace, played by ‘The Red Riding Trilogy’ actor David Morrissey works alongside a brilliant cast of British talent including Channel 4’s ‘Top Boy’ actor Ashley Walters and 4’S ‘Cape Wrath’ actress Felicity Jones.

With a dark and gritty tone, Dead Simple brings a captivating new detective series to Channel 4.       

Pre-Production Unit - Synopsis first draft

Pilot Synopsis

“Four bodies, one suspect. No trace. Dead Simple”

In this gripping first series Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is in charge of Operation: Salsa. A stag night prank, gone wrong. He and his team and working against the clock to find missing groom Michael Harrison.

When his four best friends are killed in a car accident moments after burying Michael in a coffin in the middle of Ashdown Forest, leaving him nothing but a bottle of whiskey and a walkie talkie it seems there is no hope for the soon to be husband.

A murder in Ashdown Forest leads to a chance encounter with a father who says his late son claimed to have been chatting with a lost man on a walkie talkie. Could this boy have been the answer to finding Michael Harrison?

This original and gritty new murder mystery series set in Brighton takes crime dramas to a whole new level and is set to change the history of crime dramas in the U.K Roy Grace will captivate you and leave you wanting more.

Grace himself is only too familiar with missing person’s cases, eight years after the disappearance of wife Sandy, Roy is still searching for answers.

With his photographic memory and interest in mediumship, Grace’s controversial investigative techniques are often ridiculed but never proven wrong.

Grace and his colleague and best friend, the ever more hip and younger version of Roy, Glenn Branson are assigned the task of finding the missing groom before the upcoming wedding day. When they set about solving the mystery of Harrison’s disappearance; they soon come to realise that distraught fiancée Ashley Harper and best friend and business partner Mark Warren may not be all they seem to be. 

Pre - Production - cast - Davey wheeler

This is a bit if a dodgey one!! But I have no idea for this character

Jamie Waylett